Ensilage-harvester.



I. WBIGBL.

A ENSILAGE HARVESTERk APPLIUATIUN PILE MAY 2n4 w11,

1,021,855. x Patented Apr.2,1912.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l.y

J. WEIGEL.

ENSILAGE HARVESTER.

' APPLIUATION FILED MAY 20, 1911. 1,021,855. Patented Apr. 2, 1912 l 3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

@T a, n s j Idghl www J. WEGEL.

BNSILAGE HARVESTER.

AYPLIUA'HON ULEB www, 19u

1 ,O2 1 ,855 Patented Apr. 2, 1912A 3 SHELTSSHEET Ii,

lllll u Mfmv UNITED STATES 'SPASDENT orro.

.rosnrn 'wmGEL 'or Frammenti; sovra nuora 'ENsILAoE-mvnsmn. 1,021,855. "speclmamtturitng @Patented-Mumien;

appucnaoniiiea nay zo.' 19,11. *sedaroymssa To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that L'Joseru VVEIGEI., a citizen of the United States, and resident of ["landreau, in the county of Moody and State of South Dakota, have inventedya new and Improved lhisilage-Harvcster, of.

which the following is a Specification.

My invention, which in 4general nature relates to mat-lunes for harvesting corn and the like. is more especially designed for harvesting corn for cnsilage purposes, and

it has for its object to provide a machine of i meansv for reducing-them to ensilagc the general character stated of a simple, economical and stable construction, in which the several parts are coinpactlki" and cooperatively so arranged whereby 'the operation of cutting down the corn stalks while standing, delivering: the cut stalks to cutting and for conveying the ensilage to a silo or desired collecting place, can he quickly, positively and economically accomplished.

My invention comprcliends combined corn stall( harvesting, feeding, cuttinfir and discharging mechanisms that are hereinafter fully explained, specifically pointed out. in

' the claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:-`

Figure l, is a perspective view of my invention. Fig. 2. is a general planV view of my complete machine. Fig. 2l, is aneleva tionof that side of the machine Vindicated by the arrow u, on Fig. 2. Fig. 4, is a partial set-.ion on the line i-l on Fig. 2. Fig. .7, is a cross section of the saine, on the. line on Fig. 12, looking in the direction of the arrow. Fig. l. is a detail section of the upper end of the eonveyer. Fig. 7,'is a detail perspective view of the cutting c vlinder. ["ig. S, is a detail plan view of the cutting mechanism. Fig. il, is an enlarged detail perslwetive view showing the tongue connection and the .frame adjusting lever. Fig. lll, is El detail side elevation, hereinafter rel'erred to.

ln the practical development of in v iiiveution. the iii-.1in l'i'anie has a series of cross beams l connected at one end to a pair of longitudinal parallel brains l-I, the other ends` of the said beams l-t being secured on the inner one oll the gathering members L. the latter being preferably formed of angle. iron and thtl former of hollow square,

' vand. onl the :inner fece of the wheel thehub *31" thereof carries achainwhcel lf from which motion is conveyed to' the operating parts, hereinafter described. Y

"32 designates a counter shaft. journaledin bearings' on the cross beams 1, the forward end of c:which carries a crank disk 't' andthe rear end a bevel pinion 5 that meshes with Va larger pinion 6, onfa shaft thaty extends transversely of the machine, and which mechanism, hereinafter fully described.

Shaft tO at the end next the whcel'30, `has 4a. cliain'wheel ft, overwhicli takes the drive ehainltl 'that passes from the main chain "wheel 4. before referred to.

72 designateslawrist pinten the disk 7'to which "connects theA inneriend'of. a pitinan rod7tlitinsfwith the-imov'able--one 74 Vof the sickle cutte'rgthe'stationaryone 75 of `which 11iiiclu"des htithe oppositel disposed throat sliearin'gmeinbcr's 75Min the lateral ,bearing portions '75" `wliiclrarebolted, or

it bein"l understood tlmt"".tlie'corn stalks, when the machineV travelsfforwardly, Vhave their loweriends-guided into the throatway formed by thefnieinbers 'l,'and for 'guiding the inovable cutter 't4 the members 75 have guide slots 75 and bridge portions 75", as is clearly shown Vinv F'igj, such arrangement of parts providing fora free andcasy movement of the movable cutter 74 with resi'iect to its mate.

lie'enslage cutting mechanism presently referred to is `located inthe longitudinal plane of and t-o the rear of the'gathering and cutting devices, and for conveying the cuts-talks in'an upright lposition; so the lower ends thereof are fed to the means that reduces the stalks'to Iineparticlcs, or cnsilage, I provide the 'mechanism best shown in Figs. 2, 3 and l, by 'reference to which it will he observed asheet metal chute lt), U shaped in cross set-tion extends at an up- ,ward incline from the siekle`or cutter dedevices, presently again referred to, that direct the lower or butt ends of the stalks to the cutting means at. that' end of thc machine.

The lower the top of the 'gathering angle iron arms, and the u )per end is bolted to iron :st-.nulards 15 tutt are fastened to the castings Q-Q, presentlyagain referred to, and extransinits motion to the ensilagegathering 'otherwise' niatldfastftotlie'langle beams 2,

vices to a point-directly over thel receiving' end ot the chute l0 is bolted to e only of such devices is given.

.DC-D designate two timbers of suitable l width, and preferably one inch lumber, one

of whic- D is secured to'the inner gathering ar i near the outer end thereof and its upper end is bolted to the 'bearing 16n of the inner standard 15. Member Dl .extends over the upper end of the member D and is secured thereto byl the bolts d and is held dspaced apart therefrom by the thim'- bles 4 D is a shield board that extends the full length `ofthe twof'members D'-. and lower end fits inian iron socket d bolted to the top ofy the outer end of;` the athering arm. -The shield boar-dD" inclinesinwa'rdly and is'se'curcd on the wed eblocl d.

'f D designates Aa* cast knuc le with a square socket'forreceivin'gthe squared end c of a stub shaft projected from a'double chain ,wheel C? .fastened toor formed integral wtha pinion c" that meshes with a bevel ar C on a. cross shaft c* mounted'in 'the orwaid end of the side frames Q-Q, and whose outer end carries a bevel gear C for operating the knuckle connection for the outer-one of the-"conve er devices, 4and a chain :wheel o that receives motion from a chain that takes over the wheel C on the outer end of the drivingv shaft 60.

The upper end of the lmuckle shaft d1"- carries a chain whee D located above .the board D' around whic takes an endless conve' er chain 13 thatl alst) takes around anV id er chain wheel D mounted on the' extreme upper end. of. the' hoard D.' Shaft the cut stalks upwar d" also carriesa chain-'wheel D located under the board 'D' over. which takes an endless conveyer chain 13, that also passes ,over-the idler chain wheel at the bottom of edge of which Tides through a horizontal slot S in the vertical wall of the chute, and

over a chain wheel c at the lower end, and a similar wheel c at`the upper end of the chute. y i 'By reason of the peculiar construction and arrangement of the parte shown and described, it will be apparent that when the machine is drawn forwardly the stalks are gathered,- 'severed at the butt4 end and conveyed in a standing position to the supplemental cutting mechanism that reduces the athered stalks to finely cut particles, and or holding the stalks in proper position for being drawn down into engagement with the said supplemental cuttin mechanism, a trough-like pocket or shield is fastened to the rear upper edges of the'side frames Q.-Q, as is clearly shown in Fig. 3, which 'also shows .the 'general arrangement of the sup lemental cutting mechanism, now to be exp ained. The side castngsQ-gQ' are of` suitable thickness with thel edges of the bearings therein hanged to add strength thereto.

A? designates a rotary cylinder provided with a number, preferably four, spirally aranged peripheral knives a2 that coact with a ledger plate a' mounted on a heavy tast curved -shield A. that also forms a font `conveyer and over an idler chain rollerb' inr the upper or discharging end.

The conveyer and elevator is mounted and braced to the main frame in any well known man ne and its belt is drawn by the chain wheel.' i3 on the lower roller shaft, over whic'htak'es an ndless chain l{that takesover bvegear b held in mesh with a bevel gear bien a shaft bf that is mounted transverseI of the side frames Q-Q andwhch carri f a sprocket wheel B' see Fig.' 10, reoeivi a chain Wheelo a shaft that carriesa 1,19

motion throu h a chain b from a sprocket 1.15

on a uted ro ler a the stub shaft of which at' the` other side carries another sprocket a which is driven from a'hub-like sprocketa1 on a large gear a mesh-ing with a pinion a"I on the cutting cylinder shaft'a". Atv'the other end, shafta carries a sprocket a whichis driven from a motor M of any suitable type.l Fluted roller al has at one side a gear which Vmeshes with a similar one on a second fluted roller a", thus giving it motion in an opposite direction.

T desi ates the tongue which is pivotally connecte to the framing, as at t..

U is a lever which represents a means by I which the machin'e is raised and lowered 'from and toward the ground, and this ohreadilyl'apparent hy reference to Fig. Sl. of`

the drawings. i

In the practical handling of the machine,

clutch mechanism 7U o f any approved type may be comhined with the driving mechanism actuated by the main or hull wheel, and may he worked from the drivers scat to throw the machine in and ont of action.

In the use of myl machine as it is driven along the stalks are cnt by the cutting mechanisiu- 74 and 75 and regularly fed to the cutting,r cylinderv which being rapidly rotated from the motoM. will easily dispose of the stalks as theyiare fed np and all choking of the machine is avoided. lVhen one wagon is loaded itmay be driven oti' to the silo and another Wagon drawn in place to receive the next loatliof cuttin s, the operation of the parts being practica ly automatic, with little or no interruption and without manual handling of the cut stalks.

What I claim is:

1. A harvesting machine comprising the following nleiiients in combination; a first cutting mechanism for cutting the standing stalks, means for carrying the eut stalks parallel to their initial position, a second cutting mechanism, and means for directing the out stalks with their butt ends first into e, direct engagement with the said second cutting mechanism.

2. it harvesting machine comprising the following elements in combination; a first cutting mechanism for cutting the standing stalks, means for carrying the cnt stalks parallel to their initial position, a second cutting mechanism,A means for feeding the cutstalks with their hutt ends first into direct engagement with the second cuttingr mechanism, and means for collecting the cut stalks from the carrying means and holding tiiein i'ith their lmtt ends perpendicular to 'the said second cutting mechanism.

.3. Af harvesting machine comprising iiicombination with gathering devices and a cutting mechanism for severing the stalks that cniiperatcs with the gathering devices,

of a chopping i'nechanism for reducing the gathered stalks int/o `small particles, means for'collecting and conveying the cnt stalks from the cutting mechanism to the chopping mechanism, saidconi'eying moans includingr devices for sustaining the cnt stalks in the vertical position and deliveringr them pci'- pciidicnlally to the chopping nicchanisni :ind

a chute for engaging tluhint ends of the cnt stalks for directing tho said ends to the :said sei-ond cutting mechanism.

-ing the stalks endwise ping mechanism, said chopping mec l li?, a harvesting machine; thiI i'oinliiinin tion th gathering nn .in` Eird l.ill riiiiii devices that cooperate therewith, of chopping niechanisni, Asaid choppingmechanism including feed devices forforcingthe stalks cndivise to the chopping;devices,.i.nd other.v

means for gatheringandeonve ing-'theciit stalks, and delivering,tliein'int eirrvertical positionl tothe aforesaid feedv devices said other means including;` a Usshaped, chute upoirwhich the butt ends-ofthe stalksfride and which extends fromsthe `cutting-,mechanism tothe chopping mechanism.

.5.' In a harvesting machine,ithecoiabi,

nation with. stalkgathering; and.V cutting mechanism, and nieansfor conveying the cnt stalks in an upri ht position away from th'- cutting niec anism,.and.other means for* poeketing'. the. cut' stalks; of a cho ping mechanism under the stalk poc eting means, s. delivery means including gripping devices en'dwise ldoivn .to the chop ing mechanism and a runway for the stal butts that extends from the .cuttingz to thehopping mechanism.;

In a harvestingmachineLthe combination `with stalkgatheringV and cuttingmechanism, and.means; for; conveying; the .cut stalks in anupright position awa .'fromthe cutting mechanism. and'` forc gc eting the cutstalks; ofaichoppinggme ism under the stalkV pocketing. sition, a delive means including gripping; devices 'for plul down' to-the c opconsistingof a. rotary c lnder having peripheral cutters, and s. 1 'gerplate 7. In a harvestin rvmachine, the combination with stalk gatiering mechanism, and means for chnveying the cut stalks mv im upright position away from the cutting mechanism and for cpo'cketin'gfthe' 'cut stdlks; of 'a chopping me' anism aident/he stalk pocketing position, a delivery means including ripping devices forA-Billling the stalks en wise down to a choppgig mecha.- nism, said chopping mechanism" consisting of a rotary cylinder having peripheratcutters, a ledger plate, and a front'guard for directing the discharge of the clioppings and means for collecting the cuttings and discharging to one side of the maclnne.

8. In a harvester machine, a. primary cutting mechanism, a conveying mechanism for gripping the cut stalk and moving it bodily upwardly and rearwardly into the machine while maintaining the cut stalk parallel tio its initial position, an ensilage cutting mechanism. a trough into which the cut stalk is delivered by said conveying mechanism. said trough bein held substantially vertical to deliver t e eut stalk butt cnil irst downwardly into the ensilage cutting mechanism, and means for delivering tlnlncly ont stalk portions fiom the machinitogi-ther with mechanism for operatfor pulling the stalkshanism ing`both of said cutting mechanisms and said conveying mechanism.

9. In a harvesting machine, an upper and lower gathering and conveying mechanism forfeeding the stalks upwardly and rear- 'wardly into the machine and movin them in positions parallel'to their initia position, said upper gatherin `mechanism project-ingv in advance of sai lower gathering mechanism,A a. primary cutting mechanism at theentrant cndof said lower gathering mechanism, -an ensilage cutting mechanism at the vrear of said lo'wer gathering mechanism, a trou h extending from said ensilaffe cutting mee anism substantially verticali'A upward to theend of ad'ju per gathering mechanism to receivethe ,sta ks and deliver them vertically dowznward, butt end first, to said ensilage cutting mechanism, and power applying devices for operating both of said cutting mechanisms and both of said gathering mechanisms.

10. In a'harvesting machine, the combination with means for lgathering the standing stalks and feeding them upwardly and rearwrdlyintfthe machine, of a rimary cuttinggmec'hanism eoperative with said gathering nieansffor cutting the standing stalks from n the" stubs, a' stalk chopping mechaiiisin'meansfor receiving the stalks A from the gathering and conveying mechanism, in an u right position and delivering them vertica ly downwardpbutt end first into the chopping mechanism,` and means for receiving the chopped stalk portions and delivering them from the machine together with a power applying mechanism or operating Said gathering mechanism, said cutting mechanism and said chopping mechanism.

11. In a harvesting machine, the combination with stalk gathering mechanism including an upper and a 'lower set of endless eonveye'r chains having pusher mem bers, of a stalk severing mechanism at the entrance to said lower chains, a. stalk chopping mechanism at the delivery end of said lower chains, and a trough-like receiver at the delivery ends of said upper andrlower chains for receiving the cut stalks in an upright position and delivering them downwardly, end first, to said chopping mechanism, and means for receiving the chopped stalk portions from said chopping mechanisms and delivering the same out of the machine.

. JOSEPH lNEIGEL. `VVitnesses':

J. R. CooMs, J. A. SMITH. 

